Weekly Photo Challenge: Worn Out…

“Just as we outgrow a pair of trousers, we outgrow acquaintances, libraries, principles, etc., at times before they’re worn out and at times – and this is the worst of all – before we have new ones.” Georg C. Lichtenberg

Worn: Damaged and shabby as a result of much use. Very tired. Dictionary.comThis was not an easy task for me to do… I had to decide between things that were worn out and things that were beautifully worn with age. They might share the word “worn” but to me, they weren’t quite the same. I did eventually settle on things that were truly worn out… like the Chainmail Brynie and some that were beautifully worn; like the Bayeux tapestry above; both from Musée de la Tapisserie de Bayeux. It felt like the right way to respond to the prompt. I guess the lesson on this one is that beauty, as well as worn-out, is in the eyes of the beholder.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Worn Out... Old, decaying building at Chateau de Caen built by William the Conqueror

I took the above photos at Chateau de Caen built by William the Conqueror and at a Battle of Normandy site. I have added others taken elsewhere below. We can see history, age, experience in things that others might view as tired. Our attachment to the history of a thing or the quality it offers, like aged wine, makes us see beyond the definitions. Just like some people love old clothes, others don’t… I will add more photos later (Updated). What are your thoughts?

“Heaven is all around me. Heaven is a point of view, a state of mind. Heaven is where I feel a communion of love with everything in existence.” Don Miguel Ruiz

Weekly Photo Challenge: Worn Out... copy of a well worn book... it's over 100 years old.

I like old things and so even when others choose to describe something as worn, I generally don’t unless it is something worth chucking out… Yes, I know… semantics… but it is the way I view it from my small part of the larger painting we call our world… I wonder what my real reluctance towards the term was. I must think about that because that four letter word (worn) had an unusual grip on my mind and there was quite a bit of resistance to it; very interesting eh?

Weekly Photo Challenge: Worn Out... Mimicking worn; A piece of art at High Line Park

I uploaded a few more photos that fit some aspect of the task; an old book, a street shot of a home in Cambridgeshire, UK, and that piece of sculpture mimicking worn (I liked that) from High Line Park in Manhattan. I’d love to hear your views on this one. 🙂 Overall, this project gave me much food for thought and a recognition that heaven is all things; both worn and new… What are your thoughts? What worn things did you find? Did you find the exercise wearing? Do share? Thank you! 🙂

Positive Motivation Tip: Whether things are worn or not, we can still find beauty in them…

I really love worn out desk tops, ink stains and signs of use. lightly worn photographs are cool. A nice soft pair of worn pajamas, not too worn. worn manmade constructions like out-of-use bridges, cranes and factories can be a good source of inspiration. Have you ever been into a room where everything is brand new? It has no feeling.

Hmmm. You make me think of worn in the sense of history. History is memories of times past and that’s what I see in all the photos but the last. Interesting. You are so well-traveled Elizabeth. I’m always amazed by your photos. Thanks for sharing. 🙂

Your photos are comforting, peaceful, uplifting…thank you, Eliz!
I love old plates, especially those with flower patterns…when we lived in CT, there were antique stores and garage/tag/yard sales dotting every street in every town…I ran out of room in my cabinets. 🙂
And old books, especially children’s picture books…the bookshelves are bulging, but I almost can’t help myself…the local Friends of the Library bookrooms are a dangerous place for me, because I feel like I am RESCUING these worn and forlorn pages…they were loved by someone years ago and are now abandoned…I scoop them up and bring them home…perhaps I am the ASPCA of old unwanted picture books.:)

the WASTE BOOKS of G.C. Lichtenberghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georg_C._Lichtenberg
will never be too worn; since 40 years his aphorisms are the best collection of thoughts I’ve read in my life – saying this, surrounded by thousands of books;
because his style of thinking is so light, easy, humorous, flexible

I always like your photos because you have so many photos of things I have never seen and most of my photos are more of people than places or objects so it’s hard for me sometimes to pick good ones for the challenges.
I probably cheated in my definition of worn choosing to go with more of a “wearing” something version of worn and a vintage meaning of worn…..I just don’t like the negative ideas of worn.
To me, older or worn is sometimes better than new.

Great photos!! I love things that a lot of people would consider ‘worn out’ best of all! The character that comes with age, old patinas of use… My favorites!
Don’t forget to come by and join my Farnsworth Note Card give-away today on Rosa’s Picks!